Moving Picture World (Sep 1916)

1874 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 16, 1916 Toronto's Regent Theater Opens City's Newest Theater Is Its Finest — On August 25 Many Invited Guests Admire the Beauty p.nd Splendid Appointments of the New Regent — Leon Brick Is Manager and E. L. Ruddy Is President of the Company. Bj W. -M. Gladish, 1203 Gerrard St. B., Toronto, Ontario. <-p ORONTO, ONTARIO. — Toronto's finest •*• of the fine, the new Regent theater, Adelaide street near Yonge, was formally opened on Friday night, August 25, when an invited audience completely filled the house. The guests were pleased. Famous Player^ and Pathe furnished the films for the first show and the selected "eature was Marguerite Clark's "Little Lady Eileen," :i fanciful romance. A comedy number was 'Sis Hopkins' Double Elopement," the first Sis Hopkins' release to be screened in Toronto, while a news reel, the British Topical, was also included in the opening show. The fourth subject was a Pathe scenic release, The Matsushima Islands, projected in natural colors. An unfortunate part of the opening was that the house was not quite finished. The $11,000 Cassavant organ was not ready for use while several features of the handsome structure required finishing touches. There was sufficient in evidence, however, to arouse the unqualified admiration of the gathering. It was something entirely new for a Toronto audience to find itself able to roam through promenades, reading', reception and rest rooms — all richly furnished and well aired. The admitted cost of the new photoplay house is half a million dollars. The old theater on the site of the Regent is said to have cost half of this sum and it was merely torn out to make room for the beautiful new building, the seating capacity of which is 1,500, with iiOO on the ground floor. One of the different features of the Regent consists of the lighting system which permits of changing tints to conform with the screen subject. The aisles and stairs of the house are covered with a rich red carpet, while the general decorations are of the so-called Adam's period, gold and blue in color. The symphony orchestra consists of fourteen pieces and is placed on the stage itself, the screen being forty feet from the first row of seats. Frederick Edgerton of the Woodstock Conservatory of Music has beeni engaged as organist. E. L. Ruddy, president of the Regent Theatre Company, and Manager Leon Brick have arranged with the Famous Players, the Metro and Pathe for film service and there will be changes in the programme three times each week. Thomas W. Lamb, the New York theater architect, designed the Toronto Regent. Exchangemen Ask Express Companies to Aid Cash-Basis Plan Needs Quicker Accounting on C. O. D. Collections and Adjustments on Lost Shipments. TORONTO, ONT. — In connection with the decision of the managers of Toronto exchanges to maintain a cash:in-advance business policy starting September 4, it has been found necessary to enlist the cooperation of the three express companies having offices in Toronto. According to information given to your correspondent, the express companies have been taking as long as two months' time before credit has been given to a consignor of films for a C. O. D. shipment. There will be many c. < ). I >. packages when the new business basis is established, it is believed, and the Toronto exchange managers have decided to draw the attention of the express companies to the delay in which collections are turned over. This tardiness will be the onlj troublesome feature of the new trade arrangement unless the express companies will adopt a better plan. The suggestion of J. Travis, manager of the Specialty Film Import Company, which distributes Pathe releases, is that the ex press companies make combined payments ly of all colled ions on parcels of film. 'Tins nient would save bookkeeping work, it is thought. The attention of the express companies is also being drawn to the fact that adjustments on lost or mis-sent shipments of film are frequently not made for six to e Cter a mistake or loss has occurred. A speeding-up of the adjustment depart nieni is ;iskcd for. The three companies which are said to he at fault tire tin nonunion, Canadian and Canadian Northi m express companies. Toronto film exchanges have taken steps tor the closing out of all old accounts \sith "clients" so that each exhibitor using a service from one of tin exchanges will be starting with a clean Financial sheet In September. The Canadian Universal has Bed Its exhibitors bj Letter thai all film lolls must be paid up completely by September 2nd and thai all orders for tilms for the week starting September 1th must be accompanied by check, otherwise the reels u ill be shipped CO i '. Changes in Blue Bird Offices. Toronto, Ont. — Changes having an important bearing on activities in the Canadian nests of the Blue Bird have just been made, according to announcement. Harry Price, formerly of the Famous Players Film Service, has been appointed special representative for both the Blue Bird and Universal services in the Canadian West. R. J. McKinney, formerly a road man for the Universal with routes running out from Toronto, has been appointed Toronto manager of the Blue Bird in succession to W. A. Campbell, who has gone to Cleveland. Mr. McKinney will look after Blue Bird distribution throughout Ontario. "As good as gold." "As white as snow." "As fine as silk." Why do other papers in this field invariably try to compare with the standard of the MOVING PICTURE WORLD? There's a reason. G. E. Bernard at Auditorium's Helm. London, Ont. — The Auditorium, which has been operated as a moving picture theater under the direction of the London Y. M. C. A., was reopened for the tall and winter season under the personal management of G. E. Bernard. A previous announcement contained the information that the theater would be reopened with F. Brick, son of Manager Leon Brick of the new Toronto Regent, as managing director. Star the Only Burned Theater. Toronto, Ont. — The fire holocaust in northern Ontario which resulted in the loss oi nunc than 200 lives, wiped out only one moving picture theater, according to the oflicial analysis of the destruction of prop< lis. This was the Star theater at Cochrane, Ontario, operated by \Y. 11. Warke. \\ inch was totally destroyed along with the entire village. The future plans Of Mr. Warke have not yet been announced. Montreal News Letter By Lane .McLean, 7 Phillips Square, Montreal, Canada. The Imperial's Fall Program Popular. MONTREAL, QUE — The Imperial, Montreal's pride, is again playing to capacity houses. With the welcome drop in the temperature last Saturday and Sunday, which has broken the continued hot spell, the public responded readily to the high-class program which is being offered at this theater under the management of H. W. Conover. Mr. Conover is the dean of exhibitors in Canada, having represented the Keith and Albee interests for a great many years, and his initiative ability, reinforced by his wide experience, has enabled him to carry his theater successfully through the hot months. • The fall program of the Imperial consists of one Famous selected from the two weekly releases, one Metro and one Y-LS-E. In addition to these excellent drawing cards, Mr. Conover has secured the Fadettes of Boston to furnish his music, and the support of this twenty-piece orchestra will add greatly to the Imperial's attractions. Mr. Conover stated that his record house was attained at the showing of Madam Petrova in "The Eternal Question." Crowds Fill the St. Denis. Montreal, Que.— The beautiful St. Denis theater, under the highly efficient management of E. L Perry, is now enjoying one of the most prosperous periods of its career. Mr. Perry is a Keith man and received his degree in the liberal art of advertising while connected with the Mastbaum interests of Philadelphia, and let it be said to his credit that Mr. Perry has introduced in behalf of his new theater some of the most modern and unique advertising schemes ever placed before the Montreal public and under his scientific "treatment" the St. Denis is playing to standing-room-only houses. Manager Teel a Visitor. Sherbrooke, Que. — Manager E. H. Teel of His Majesty's theater, Sherbrooke, Que., was a visitor in Montreal this week for the purpose of completing plans for his fall program. His Majesty's will feature Metros, Worlds and the Y-L-S-E releases. Theaters Respond in Sailors Behalf. Montreal, Que. — The liberality and patriotism of the managers of the leading' theaters in Montreal has been clearly demonstrated by their free-handed cooperation with the committee in charge of the Sailors' Relief Fund, which is engaged in raising' money to assist the sailors and their families who are in need as a result of the European War. Practically every leading theater responded heartily to the call and on September 5th. 25 per cent of the gross receipts accruing to these houses will go into the treasury of this fund. The committee, in turn, with the co-operation of the local public press, has given much pubilicty to the houses which share their receipts on that date. Many Autos Help Film Business. Montreal, Que. — Montreal exchange managers are rapidly coming to the point of securing automobiles to be used in calling on the trade and in the delivery Of rush order tilms. This is practically a new departure in this city. A. H. Sawyer. president and general manager of the Standard, is the latest recruit in the ranks of auto owners, but with the progress that is being made here in the film business there is no doubt but that every one of the dozen exchanges in operation will use automobile service of their own at. an early date.